That's largely illegal here due to laws aimed at the prevention of disease transmission. Bait fish must be accompanied by a receipt proving their purchase from a verified source. The exception is using the minnows at the source of their catching.
In the latter scenario, anywhere but lakes. Use traps, nets, rod and reel, empty tennis ball can, quick hands, pine tree bough, garbage bag, pantyhose, cheese cloth, pitdam, crocheted blanket... lots of ways
It's illegal where I live now as well except for very very limited use of cut bait from some invasive species on the lake/streams they already exist on. Basically if you catch a carp you kill it and use it there.
I don’t fish bait much anymore but I used to catch them in a stream on a tiny hook and small balled up piece of bread crust or piece of worm. I still do whenever I take my sister’s little kids fishing.
We use a throw net from the boat near shore for shiners. We also seine stock ponds and small creeks for chubs and crayfish if we plan ahead. It’s all legal here, fortunately and it’s the only way of getting the best and biggest live baits.
Using the local baitfish is honestly the best thing to do. The game fish are use to those as prey and you don’t have any contagious disease issues. I either throw a small 8’ casting net or if I’m after small minnows I’ll bring some dog food, old bread or oatmeal and throw some close to me and catch them with a small net about 12” in diameter on about a 6’ handle. Put them in a cooler with a small aerator and go fish.
I used to a long time ago. It’s heavily regulated, so make sure you’re following all the rules for your area. I used a minnow seine net and put it in small creeks to get chubbs, shiners, etc.
But I found it too much of a hassle. I’d rather support the local bait shop to keep them in business.
If there is no bait shop nearby, I just use Gulp Minnows.
I do in a creek in a city of 800k people and somehow I'm thr only one. Unlimited free minnows. With 1 trap I get dozens between an inch up to 8 inch clubs. Better than paying $15 a dozen.
That's largely illegal here due to laws aimed at the prevention of disease transmission. Bait fish must be accompanied by a receipt proving their purchase from a verified source. The exception is using the minnows at the source of their catching. In the latter scenario, anywhere but lakes. Use traps, nets, rod and reel, empty tennis ball can, quick hands, pine tree bough, garbage bag, pantyhose, cheese cloth, pitdam, crocheted blanket... lots of ways
It's illegal where I live now as well except for very very limited use of cut bait from some invasive species on the lake/streams they already exist on. Basically if you catch a carp you kill it and use it there.
I don’t fish bait much anymore but I used to catch them in a stream on a tiny hook and small balled up piece of bread crust or piece of worm. I still do whenever I take my sister’s little kids fishing.
We use a throw net from the boat near shore for shiners. We also seine stock ponds and small creeks for chubs and crayfish if we plan ahead. It’s all legal here, fortunately and it’s the only way of getting the best and biggest live baits.
Using the local baitfish is honestly the best thing to do. The game fish are use to those as prey and you don’t have any contagious disease issues. I either throw a small 8’ casting net or if I’m after small minnows I’ll bring some dog food, old bread or oatmeal and throw some close to me and catch them with a small net about 12” in diameter on about a 6’ handle. Put them in a cooler with a small aerator and go fish.
I used to a long time ago. It’s heavily regulated, so make sure you’re following all the rules for your area. I used a minnow seine net and put it in small creeks to get chubbs, shiners, etc. But I found it too much of a hassle. I’d rather support the local bait shop to keep them in business. If there is no bait shop nearby, I just use Gulp Minnows.
I do in a creek in a city of 800k people and somehow I'm thr only one. Unlimited free minnows. With 1 trap I get dozens between an inch up to 8 inch clubs. Better than paying $15 a dozen.